Yorkie Pup Concerns

ch1984

Hi,

I got a yorkie pup on Monday and just have a few concerns about her if anyone can advise it would be greatly appreciated.

Firstly her skin is extremely dry and very very flakey all over-the other pups in the litter seemed to have this also but is really quite bad on her.. i'm not sure whether it was the conditions she was kept in or the diet she was on before i got her. She got a treatment of Stronghold from my local vet for skin/mites etc.. i gave her a lil bath today also. Any other advice or info on what could be the cause or what i can do?

Secondly: She seems to have a very bad odour/smell from her breath.. This has been consistent from the day i got her, almost like faeces. She does try to eat it when goes to toilet but i have been watching out for that and quick to clean it up so she hasn't gotten the chance but i'm sure on numerous occasions she's done it in the place i got her from.. maybe thats in her system? Why do they do that?

I was told she was almost 8 weeks when i got her but turns out she's only 6 weeks and teething, would that give an odour to her breath? Is it something i have to worry about? Anyone any clues what causes this?

Looking forward to any replies

Chantelle

Call me Socket

ch1984 wrote: »

Anyone any clues what causes this?

Buying from an irresponsible breeder or puppy farmer would be the main reason I imagine...
A crap, cheap diet will give a dog bad breath, and tinned food as well. Did the vet look at her teeth? There could be a problem with her gums. If your vet hasn't already given her a complete once over then you should bring her back for a thorough checkup.
The poor thing is too young to have left the litter as you know.... god there are some money hungry hobby breeders out there.
What food have you got her on Chantelle?

star-pants

My pup developed flakey itchy skin from her food, some dogs are allergic to some foods (not just due to quality). I put a tiny capsule (burst it and squirt it over the food) of codliver oil on one of her feeds each day, and I alternate it with evening primrose oil. That and changing her food (I changed to James Wellbeloved for now) and she's doing brilliant.

Regarding them eating their own poop - you could put a small bit of pineapple in her food too (as she's so young I'm not sure yet, ask your vet perhaps) that does deter them from eating their own poop.
You can get puppy treats, (can't think of the name right now) - they're tiny bite size things, with clove oil and other stuff in it -- this helps with them teething, it soothes slightly, and can help improve their breath a little too. Dogs breath can smell for different reasons.

My pups still teething at 6 months (she's lost most of her baby teeth by now, I hope!) so she will eat anything she can get her teeth on when they're sore. Thus they can find bits of crap out the back or wherever so just keep an eye to what they can get hold of too.

don't bathe your pup too often btw, that dries out their skin and fur too.

Sigma Force

Pups love to eat their own poop it's normal but unpleasant for us humans to watch. Switch gradually to a better quality food and give the pup some small pieces of tinned pineapple that usually puts a full stop to eating the poop.

The breath could be from the dog food or the poop or both.

How do you know she's six weeks?

As said a better quality food can help with skin conditions, pups can have dry skin esp. if washed a lot or the diet doesn't agree with them.

Burns puppy food, Royal Canin puppy, James WB, Hills and there's a load more types of better quality food that should work out. Perhaps adding a little oily fish once or twice a week will also help the skin.

ch1984

Hi guys,

Thanks for your replies and advice.. i'll try answer both in this reply..

The person i bought her off was a breeder and from speaking to her seemed to care about them but when i went out there, she had 3 bitches, in a shed, separated with their litters, the smell in the place was awful and as i said the conditions.. she was saying in the mornings she gave them weetabix and they also seemed to get soaked adult dog food, as i mentioned pup only 6 weeks and i lived with a girl for 4 yrs who had a yorkie and know a couple things.. i'm annoyed that i paid such an amount to that breeder, fueling it etc.. but at same time, the poor pup's i felt i needed to give one a secure loving home..

Being only 6 weeks her baby teeth are still coming up.. the Vet looked at her and said she seemed ok he just mentioned her skin but the odour still there and really strong..

I'm feeding her on Science Plan for puppies.. she has a good appetite, which is nice to see..

I was told about giving her oil with her food, i must do that and haven't heard about the pineapple before, maybe i'll try it but just let her grow a little first..

If you can find out the name of those treats i'd really appreciate that she hasn't been out yet, but soon enough.. she'll need to get final vaccination in about 5 weeks also..

I bathed her today as she didn't seem to have been washed at all from the other place.. poor little girl.. i know what you mean though but she seemed really glad about it afterwards..

Thanks to you both again and i'll def let you know how things are going with her.. but if you do think of anything else please let me know

ch1984

Hey, thanks for your reply..

I found out she was 6 weeks as her DOB was on vets card with all vaccinations she received while still in breeders care.. I have her on Hill's Science Plan now.. i'll try the pineapple and a lil oil in her food also..

Can you/anyone recommend a good gentle shampoo for when i do need to wash her perhaps that might help?

Thank you again

Chantelle

Sigma Force

Not sure what you mean about getting her final vaccination in 5 weeks, the breeder gives at least the first vaccination and then the 2nd follows 2 weeks later.

I wouldn't be behind the door reporting the breeder if they are kept in bad conditions eg if they are kept in their own poop not cleaned out. Yorkies are a toy breed and should be kept in a home. The pups can't be socialised properly living in a shed.

ch1984

On the card i received she had all vaccinations at 6 weeks, i called the vet that did it while in the breeders care to run things by him and he said all she need to get was the 7 in 1 final vaccination at 12 weeks.. my Vet here was saying that she shouldn't have even gotten them all yet like you..

Like i don't know how often the breeder cleaned out the newspaper, when i was in the there the pups mother did a poop and the pups were trying to get at it, only for me being there i'm not sure if would have been cleaned etc.. they don't seem to be kept in a house and then due to dog nappings the breeder has 2 dobermans and a pitbull that run the yard but when they were locked up with me around it was small enough cages..

I really wasn't happy and felt bad paying her but you can agree that your heart goes out to the little ones.. so i really wanted to get one out of there..

I was in touch with the woman who breeds them saying i wasn't happy with her skin condition.. what, why, how etc.. and she was saying i'll give you a refund if you bring her back.. but god, i'm not going to let the lil pup go back there

Also i agree there also about the social skills and also the last 2 weeks with their mother until they are 8 weeks is so important in regards to that.. they learn so much

andreac

Sounds like a puppy farmer to me, 3 bitches with litters in a shed?? how awful.
Personally i wouldnt touch a so called breeder like this, i know you said you wanted to give the pup a home, but if people didnt buy these pups then they wouldnt be breeding in the first place.

Where did you find her, the breeder that is? was she recommended to you from someone?

ch1984

I know, the ad was in the Buy and sell and and she didn't mention 3 bitches on the phone, the pups i was told were just 8 weeks.. i agree totally that i shouldn't have bought from her but was unaware until i got out there about it.. and then for me too late, i felt terrible for the pups..
Is there anyone i can contact like to call out and do a home check kinda thing?

star-pants

I'd nearly report her if I were you.
That sounds like awful conditions, having 3 bitches giving pups and them being in soiled beds etc!!
http://www.ispca.ie/contact-ispca.aspx see if they can help maybe

I'll find out the name & get back to you.
Yes we did bathe our pup as because when they're young and sometimes well.. their poo isn't solid they need a bit of a clean, but you can just use a sink of warm water and bathe mostly their behind, that way you're not removing oils from their back etc.

Also ice cubes are good for teething, they play with them and can sorta chew/suck on them and it eases the gums too

ch1984

Great stuff thank you.. well the pens or whatever they were in while in the shed were clean while i was there but she was expecting me to arrive but dunno how it is when ppl not around, i'll contact them and see what they can do tomorrow..

I'll give the ice ago cuz she's a lil devil with all the chewing at the mo..

But yeah, i bathed her in a basin holding her above it and gently cleaning her, she was disgusted with me afterwards, lol.. such characters

Call me Socket

Try soaking, then wrenching/twisting a facecloth and freezing it....the chewing and the cold give relief to teething pups, and when it's thawed it's a plaything....:)

ch1984

haha, nice idea.. wow i posted this on a good night!! all the replies, thanks everyone for all your help, keep em coming..